The story of the Nephites’ struggles with the outside world is not over, even though this conflict is. Mormon points out the very human results of a long war: that some are hardened in their hearts because of the difficulties endured, and some are softened by those same conditions. Those who are hardened will not see the hand of the Lord in their deliverance, and they will be among the first to revive the contentions when the opportunity arises. Those whose hearts were softened understood the hand of the Lord in their salvation, and would have remained even more firm in their dedication to the Nephite ideals.